The Avro Lancaster

There are literally hundreds of books written about RAF Bomber Command and the Lancaster: below are just a sample that make reference to, or have other connections with, 550 Squadron.

Ton-up Lancs

URL	Description
	Ton-up Lancs: A Photographic Record of the Thirty-five RAF Lancasters That Each Completed One Hundred Sorties Norman L.R. Franks, 2005, ISBM 978-1904943099, Publisher: Grub Street (Jul 2005) As is clear from the title, the stories of Lancasters that carried out more than 100 missions. Featured in the book are three 550 Squadron Lancasters: ED905, BQ-F, Fox: Retired from operational flying. EE139, BQ-B, The Phanton of the Ruhr: Pictures J C Hutcheson crew at the time of BQ-B 100th operation. Also of S/L Caldow and crew in 1944 and again in the 1990's, the last crew to fly this plane on operations. Retired from operational flying The Phantom now lives again as the BBMF Lancaster. PA995, BQ-V, The Vulture Strikes: Failed to return from it's 101st sortie. Excellent chapters on each of the planes in the book, with crew lists of all operations flown by each plane and stories and many photographs of the planes and their crews (then and now).

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Description

Ton-up Lancs: A Photographic Record of the Thirty-five RAF Lancasters That Each Completed One Hundred Sorties Norman L.R. Franks, 2005, ISBM 978-1904943099, Publisher: Grub Street (Jul 2005)

As is clear from the title, the stories of Lancasters that carried out more than 100 missions.
Featured in the book are three 550 Squadron Lancasters:
ED905, BQ-F, Fox: Retired from operational flying.
EE139, BQ-B, The Phanton of the Ruhr: Pictures J C Hutcheson crew at the time of BQ-B 100th operation. Also of S/L Caldow and crew in 1944 and again in the 1990's, the last crew to fly this plane on operations. Retired from operational flying The Phantom now lives again as the BBMF Lancaster.
PA995, BQ-V, The Vulture Strikes: Failed to return from it's 101st sortie.

Excellent chapters on each of the planes in the book, with crew lists of all operations flown by each plane and stories and many photographs of the planes and their crews (then and now).

Lancaster: The Second World War's Greatest Bomber

URL	Description
	Lancaster: The Second World War's Greatest Bomber Leo McKinstry: ISBN: 978-0719523533, Publisher: John Murray (Sep 2009) A history of an iconic plane. A newly published book (3 Sept 2009) and receiving excellent reviews.

Lancaster Target

URL	Description
	Lancaster Target Jack Currie: ISBN: 978-0907579281, Publisher: Goodall Publications Described as one of the best three books about life in Bomber Command during World War II, Lancaster Target is the story of one crew's fight to survive a full tour of operations in the night skies of wartime Europe. Flying Lancaster bombers from RAF Wickenby (626 Squadron) in Lincolnshire between 1943 and 1944, Currie chronicles the life and death struggles against flak, night fighters and perilous weather with clarity and feeling, whilst capturing the `live for the moment' spirit of off-duty escapades. The Aussie navigator with Currie's crew later flew a tour with 550 Squadron.

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Lancaster Target Jack Currie: ISBN: 978-0907579281, Publisher: Goodall Publications

Described as one of the best three books about life in Bomber Command during World War II, Lancaster Target is the story of one crew's fight to survive a full tour of operations in the night skies of wartime Europe.
Flying Lancaster bombers from RAF Wickenby (626 Squadron) in Lincolnshire between 1943 and 1944, Currie chronicles the life and death struggles against flak, night fighters and perilous weather with clarity and feeling, whilst capturing the `live for the moment' spirit of off-duty escapades.
The Aussie navigator with Currie's crew later flew a tour with 550 Squadron.

Lancaster Pilot and Flight Engineer Notes

URL	Description
	Avro Lancaster 1,111 & X Pilots Notes Air Ministry: ISBN: 978-0907579281, Publisher: Air Data Publications (Facsimile of 1944 ed edition (July 1972)) Facsimile reproductions of the original RAF publication, the Pilots Notes form a unique record of some of the world's most famous military aircraft. Each approximately 60 pages, paper cover, with header card featuring euro hook cut-out for display. Available from Amazon.

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Description

Avro Lancaster 1,111 & X Pilots Notes Air Ministry: ISBN: 978-0907579281, Publisher: Air Data Publications (Facsimile of 1944 ed edition (July 1972))

Facsimile reproductions of the original RAF publication, the Pilots Notes form a unique record of some of the world's most famous military aircraft. Each approximately 60 pages, paper cover, with header card featuring euro hook cut-out for display.
Available from Amazon.